Valveless pump

ABSTRACT

A valveless pump comprising a housing, the latter including first and second chambers separated from one another. Each of the chambers has a closed end and an open end the latter being adjacent the closed end of the other. The second chamber is of annular extent and surrounds the first chamber. A magnetic assembly for generating a magnetic field extends in the second chamber, whereas a fluid ejecting magnetically-responsive hollow piston is freely disposed in the first chamber for axial displacement in the latter. A fluid inlet channel communicates with both first chamber and internally with the hollow piston, whereas a fluid outlet channel communicates with the first chamber for receiving fluid ejected by the piston.

United States Patent [1 1 Willinger et a1.

1 Aug. 7, 1973 VALVELESS PUMP [76] Inventors: Allan H. Willinger, 56 Gail Dr., New

Rochelle, NY. 10803; Melvin R. Kennedy, 1853 Diamondale Dr., Carson, Calif. 90746 [22] Filed: Aug. 23, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.: 173,784

I52] U.S. Cl. 417/240, 417/417 [51] Int. Cl. F041! 17/04, F041 7/00 [58] Field of Search 417/240, 241, 557, 417/417, 416; 239/101, 102

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,554,375 1/1971 willinger 210/169 3,687,291 8/1972 Willinger 210/169 3,023,708 3/1962 Thiele i 417/240 1,425,191 8/1922 Garbarini 417/416 3,366,067 1/1968 Kocolowski 417/417 665,917 1/1901 L'e Pontois 417/416 519,662 5/1894 Carpenter 417/416 Primary ExaminerC. J. Husar 45595 5"? Effifiilfi? @9925! Smi h Att0rney--Abraham Friedman and Abraham Goodman 7 [57] ABSTRACT A valveless pump comprising a housing, the latter including first and second chambers separated from one another. Each of the chambers has a closed end and an open end the latter being adjacent the closed end of the other. The second chamber is of annular extent and surrounds the first chamber. A magnetic assembly for generating a magnetic field extends in the second chamber, whereas a fluid ejecting magneticallyresponsive hollow piston is freely disposed in the first chamber for axial displacement in the latter. A fluid inlet channel communicates with both first chamber and internally with the hollow piston, whereas a fluid outlet channel communicates with the first chamber for receiving fluid ejected by the piston.

12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAImIm H 3.751.188 SHEI10F3 ALLAN H. WILLINGER MELVIN R. KENNEDY INVENTORS IBM MAM ATTORNEYS minnow: 1m 3.751.188

sum 2 or a ALLAN H. WILLINGER MELVIN R. KENNEDY mvzu'roas ATTORN 5Y5 PATENIEO 3.751 188 sum 3' or a FIGS.

ALLAN H.WILLINGER MELVIN R. KENNEDY INVENTORS ATTORNEY VALVELESS PUMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to water pumps that may be utilized in fish tank aquariums and the like, and more particularly to a valveless pump in which there is provided a water ejecting reciprocating piston.

Water pumps for fish tank aquariums and the like are generally well-known and may be characterized as either valve controlled pumps or alternatively as valveless pumps. In the first instance, the valve controlled pumps are the most common and widely used, but have numerous disadvantages associated with them. In this respect, the valve seats after extended use are prone to become distorted and will eventually leak. Furthermore, these valves become easily clogged thus diminishing the efficiency of the pump. Moreover, water flowing through these valves is generally subjected to high turbulence and, thus, these valves generally consume excessive energy.

Recently, valveless pumps have been developed so as to obviate the inherent disadvantages associated with the valve controlled pumps. However, because of the specific structure associated with the valveless pumps, the latter do not operate as efficiently as might be expected. In this respect, the conventional valveless pump cannot adequately handle flow rates of the capacity required for most uses and, therefore, these valveless pumps cannot be employed universally.

Another disadvantage associated with the valveless pump is the fact that the housing is generally constituted of a plurality of members which act to separate the piston chamber from that of the magnetic chamber. Thus, these conventional valveless pumps tend to leak and thereby minimize the useful life of the pump when leakage occurs between the piston chamber and the magnetic chamber.

Still a further disadvantage associated with the common or conventional valveless pump is the fact that certain of the conventional valveless pumps utilize a spring for urging the piston in one direction in opposition to magneticforces. As those skilled in the art readily appreciate, springs are difficult to control and the specific force of the spring against the piston is variable over the displacement of the piston. The variable effects of the spring against the piston are undesireable and furthermore, the entire arrangement itself, i.e., the spring-biased piston, is subjected to wear, not useful over extended periods, complex in arrangement and excessively expensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a valveless pump.

It is'another object of the present invention to provide a valveless pump that does not utilize any moving parts other than the reciprocating piston itself.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a valveless pump having a housing which is a singular seamless body for sealing the piston chamber from water leakage into the magnet supporting chamber.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a valveless pump having a housing in which is provided an electrically insulative, non-metallic, piston chamber constituted of plastic or the like for obviating possible short-circuiting between the piston and the electrical elements, which piston chamber is also of low heat conductivity and obviates formation of eddy currents which otherwise may unduly increase the temperature of the pump and surrounding water medium.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a valveless pump wherein the inlet and outlet channels which communicate with the water ejecting piston are associated with one another in a manner which is most effective for enhancing the efficiency of the pump.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a valveless pump having structure associated therewith for readily fastening the pump to an external source.

To this end the present invention relates to a valveless pump comprising a housing, the latter including first and second chambers separated from one another. Each of the chambers has a closed end and an open end the latter being adjacent the closed end of the other. The second chamber is of annular extent and surrounds the first chamber. A magnetic assembly for generating a magnetic field extends in the second chamber, whereas a fluid ejecting magnetically-responsive hollow piston is freely disposed in the first chamber for axial displacement in the latter. A fluid inlet channel communicates with both the-first chamber and internally with the hollow piston, whereas a fluid outlet channel communicates with the first chamber for receiving fiuid ejected by the piston.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additionalobjects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view in cross-section illustrating the valveless pump pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the pump pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded elevational view of the piston pursuant to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the assembled piston utilized in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the present invention relates to a valveless pump generally denoted by the reference character 20. The valveless pump 20 includes a housing 22 which may be characterized generally as a singular seamless body having an inner chamber 24 and an outer chamber 26 of annular extent and surrounding the inner chamber 24. The inner chamber 24 includes an open end 28 which tapers outwardly in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 1 and a closed en'd 30 opposite the open end thereof. The closed end 30 is of reduced diameter for the purpose as will be described further below. The outer chamber 26 includes an open end 32 and a closed end 34 opposite the open end 32. A base member 36 having an annular ring 38 is operatively associated in press-fit relation with the portion of reduced diameter of closed end 30 of the inner chamber 24. The base member 36 acts to close the open end 32 of the outer chamber 26 to conceal the contents therein as will be discussed below.

An electro-magnet 40 of generally annular extent extends internally of the outer chamber 26 as does a permanent magnet 42, the latter also of generally annular extent. The electro-magnet 40 includes a coilenwrapped plastic spool 44 and is axially spaced from the permanent magnet 42 through the intermediary of a metal washer 46. A metal casing 48 having an upper portion 50 and a lower portion 52, each of annular extent, extends in the outer chamber 26 and contains the permanent magnet 42, the metal washer 46 and the electro-magnet 40 in an assembled arrangement most clearly illustrated in FIG. 1.

It has been determined, as those skilled in the art readily appreciate, that the provision of the metal washer 46 and the metal casing 48 for spacing and containing respectively the electro-magnet 40 and the permanent magnet 42 presents an optimum magnetic field for the purpose as will be further clarified below.

A piston 54 is freely supported for axial displacement internally of the inner chamber 24 andacts as a fluid ejecting means. The piston 54 includes a hollow metal body 56 which is magnetically-responsive and has a configuration as generally illustrated in FIG. 7. The piston 54 further includes an annular plastic cap 62 which is operatively associated with the body portion thereof in press-fit relation as is an annular plastic base 64 at the lower portion of the piston 54. The annular plastic cap 62 includes an open end 66 of dimension d as illustrated in FIG. 7. The annular plastic base 64 includes an open end 68 of lateral dimension D also as illustrated in FIG. 7. The extent of the open end 66 is of lesser lateral dimension d than that dimension D of-the open end 68, and, therefore, as will be discussed further below, when the piston descends in the inner chamber 24, water is ejected through the open end 66 thereof and may be characterized as a water jet because of the enhanced velocity thereof. In order to enhance the ejection of water through the open end 66, the annular plastic cap 62 is provided with a tapered peripheral extent 70 surrounding the open end 66 thereof in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 7 so that the cap 62 in effect acts as a water ejecting nozzle.

The open end 28 of the housing 22 includes an externally threaded portion 72 of raised extent relative to the outer chamber 26 as illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 6 respectively. The valveless pump furthermore includes an internally threaded collar 74 having a pair of upstanding lugs 76 for fastening the pump to an external support member 78. In this respect, the externally threaded portion 72 projects through an opening provided in the external support member 78 so that the internally threaded collar 74 may rest upon the latter for threadedly fastening the pump 20 thereto. The upstanding lugs 76 may be utilized for purposes of tightening the collar 74 as those skilled in the art readily appreciate. In order to obviate leakage from the pump 20, relative to the external support 78, there is provided an annular rubber washer 80 which is to be interposed between the external support member 78 and the exterior of the closed end 34 of the annular outer chamber 26 as illustrated most clearly in FIG. I.

A tubular insert member 82 having a generally cylindrical bore 84 is utilized for providing both inlet and outlet channels in communicating relation with the inner chamber 24. In this respect, the tubular member 82 includes a plurality of radially extending spacing ears 88 which are utilized in press-fit relation with the open end 28 of the inner chamber 24. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the open end 28 of the inner chamber 24 is radially spaced from the tubular member 82 because of the provision of the spacing ears 88 and thus the tubular member 82 and the open end 28 of the inner chamber 24 define an annular cavity through which a fluid such as water may enter into the inner chamber 24. Similarly, the generally cylindrical bore 84 of the tubular member 82 acts as an outlet channel through which water may be ejected by the piston 54 in a manner as will be further clarified below.

As illustrated in FIG. I, the electro-magnet 40 includes a pair of terminals 90 connected generally at mid-section of the coil-enwrapped spool 44. In order to enhance the optimum performance of the pump 2, the hollow metal body 56 is provided with an axial length L which is substantially equal to that distance from the mid-section of the coil-enwrapped plastic spool 44 to the extreme pole 92 of the permanent magnet 42. The terminals 90 are connected to an electric wire 94 which in turn is electrically coupled to an electric power source (not shown). As illustrated in FIG. 1, a coupling member 96 having a bore 98 is interposed between the housing 22 and the base member 36 in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this manner, the electric wire 94 may be tightly received in the bore 98 of the coupling member 96 and supported in the latter most efficiently.

In operation, the pump 20 may be connected to a water-carrying external source, the bottom of which source may be the support member 78, in a manner as discussed above, so that fluid or water may flow into the inner chamber 24 through the annular space between the open end 28 of the inner chamber 24 and the tubular member 82. Fluid or water thus completely fills the inner chamber 24 and upon energizing the electromagnet 40, the polarity of the latter constantly reverses itself and causes the piston 54 to reciprocate axially along the inner chamber 24. The provision of the permanent magnet 42 in combination with metal washer 46 and casing 48 establishes a permanent magnetic field path having three distinct poles at 100, 102, and 104, poles 100 and 104 being of the same polarity. Electro-magnet 40 is disposed in such a position that it interferes with the ability of the permanent magnetic field path to use alternately one of its extreme poles 100, 104 during the energization of electro-magnet 40. The piston therefore moves upwardly to center itself with respect to poles 100, 102 during one-half of the cycle when pole 104 is interferred with, and then moves downwardly to center itself with respect to poles 102, 104 during the other half of the cycle when pole 100 is interferred with.

high rate of reciprocation of the piston 54, the latter effects the ejection of water in jet fashion into the tubular member 82 and thus water or the like is continuously pumped through the tubular member 82 and into the environment externally of the valveless pump 20. It is noteworthy, that because of the singular seamless housing 22 which is not constituted of a plurality of members interconnected to one another fastening such as by welding or fastneing elements, which housing 22 separates the inner chamber 24, wherein the pistonis displaceably mounted, from the outer annular chamber 26, wherein the magnetic assembly is mounted, there is completely obviated any possibility of leakage between the latter chambers that would otherwise reduce the useful life of the pump 20.

It is also noteworthy and significant that the outlet channel defined by the annular spacing between the tubular member 82 and the open end 28 of the inner chamber 24 cooperate with one another in reverse manner and together extend substantially vertically so that water can enter into the inner chamber 24 solely under its own pressure due to gravity and without the necessity for additional pressure sources that might otherwise increase the complexity of the entire arrangement.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A valveless pump comprising a housing, said housing including means for defining first and second chambers separated from one another, each of said chambers having a closed end and an open end, the open end of each chamber extending adjacent the closed end of the other, said second chamber being of annular extent and surrounding said first chamber, magnetic means for generating a magnetic field extending in said second chamber, a fluid ejecting magnetically-responsive hollow piston freely disposed in said first chamber for axial displacement in the latter, means for defining a fluid inlet channel communicating with both said first chamber and internally with said hollow piston, means defining a fluid outlet channel communicating with said first chamber for receiving fluid ejected by said piston, said piston including opposite open-ended portions, one of said open-ended portions being of lesser open extent than that of the other and most proximate said outlet channel, said inlet channel being of annular extent and surrounding said outlet channel, saidopen end of said first chamber being annularly spaced from said outlet channel and tapering outwardly axially relative to the latter in a direction of fluid ejection by said piston.

2. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for defining said first and second chambers is constituted as a singular seamless body sealing said first and second chambers from fluid-leakage communication with one another.

3. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 2, wherein said seamless body is constituted of non-metallic material of low heat conductivity.

4. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1,.wherein said outlet channel and said open end of said first chamber are operatively associated with oneanother in press-fit relation.

5. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein said open end of said first chamber includes an axially raised extent relative to said second chamber, said raised extent including an externally threaded surface, said pump further including an internally threaded collar operatively associated with the externally threaded surface of said first chamber for connecting said pump to an external water-carrying source such that the latter is interpositioned between said collar and said second chamber.

6. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein said magnetic means includes both an electromagnet and a permanent magnet in operative association with one another.

7. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 6, wherein said permanent magnet is more proximate said closed end of said second chamber than that of said electromagnet.

8. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second chamber includes a metallic casing in which said magnetic means extends.

9. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1 including means for closing said open end of said second chamber and concealing said magnetic means therein.

10. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second chamber includes a metallic casing in which said permanent magnet and said electromagnet are disposed, said metallic casing including a first portion engaging said permanent magnet proximate said closed end of said second chamber to define a first magnetic pole disposed on one side of said electromagnet, a second portion of said metallic casing extending to an opposite side of said electromagnet to define a second magnetic pole, said first and second magnetic poles being of the same polarity.

11. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein a metal washer is disposed in said metallic casing between said permanent magnet and said electro-magnet, said metal washer engaging said permanent magnet to define a third magnetic pole disposed between said first and second magnetic poles, said third magnetic pole being of a different polarity than said first and second magnetic poles.

12. A valveless pump comprising a housing, said housing including means for defining first and second chambers separated from one another, each of said chambers having a closed end and an open end, the open end of each chamber extending adjacent the closed end of the other, said second chamber being of annular extent and surrounding said first chamber, magnetic means for generating a magnetic field extending in said second chamber, a fluid ejecting magnetically-responsive hollow piston freely disposed in said first chamber for axial displacement in the latter, means for defining a fluid inlet channel communicating with both said first chamber and internally with said hollow piston, means defining a fluid outlet channel communicating with said first chamber for receiving fluid ejected by said piston, said magnetic means including both an electromagnet and a permanent magnet in operative association with one another, said second chamber including a metallic casing in which said magnetic means extends, said permanent magnet being more proximate said closed end of said second chamber than that of said electromagnet,said electromagnet including a pair 'of axially opposite ends and a mid-section equidistant from the latter said opposite ends, said electromagnet lar members connected respectively to the open ends of said metallic body, one of said plastic annular members having a lesser open extent than the other, the plastic annular member of lesser open extent including an inwardly tapered peripheral portion extending from said metallic body in a direction of fluid ejection of said pistion.

1.! III III l 

1. A valveless pump comprising a housing, said housing including means for defining first and second chambers separated from one another, each of said chambers having a closed end and an open end, the open end of each chamber extending adjacent the closed end of the other, said second chamber being of annular extent and surrounding said first chamber, magnetic means for generating a magnetic field extending in said second chamber, a fluid ejecting magnetically-responsive hollow piston freely disposed in said first chamber for axial displacement in the latter, means for defining a fluid inlet channel communicating with both said first chamber and internally with said hollow piston, means defining a fluid outlet channel communicating with said first chamber for receiving fluid ejected by said piston, said piston including opposite open-ended portions, one of said open-ended portions being of lesser open extent than that of the other and most proximate said outlet channel, said inlet channel being of annular extent and surrounding said outlet channel, said open end of said first chamber being annularly spaced from said outlet channel and tapering outwardly axially relative to the latter in a direction of fluid ejection by said piston.
 2. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for defining said first and second chambers is constituted as a singular seamless body sealing said first and second chambers from fluid-leakage communication with one another.
 3. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 2, wherein said seamless body is constituted of non-metallic material of low heat conductivity.
 4. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outlet channel and said open end of said first chamber are operatively associated with one another in press-fit relation.
 5. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein said open end of said first chamber includes an axially raised extent relative to said second chamber, said raised extent including an externally threaded surface, said pump further including an internally threaded collar operatively associated with the externally threaded surface of said first chamber for connecting said pump to an external water-carrying source such that the latter is interpositioned between said collar and said second chamber.
 6. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein said magnetic means includes both an electromagnet and a permanent magnet in operative association with one another.
 7. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 6, wherein said permanent magnet is more proximate said closed end of said second chamber than that of said electromagnet.
 8. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second chamber includes a metallic casing in which said magnetic means extends.
 9. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 1 including means for closing said open end of said second chamber and concealing said magnetic means therein.
 10. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second chamber includes a metallic casing in which said permanent magnet and said electromagnet are disposed, said metallic casing including a first portion engaging said permanent magnet proximate said closed end of said second chamber to define a first magnetic pole disposed on one side of said electromagnet, a second portion of said metallic casing extending to an opposite side of said electromagnet to define a second magnetic pole, said first and second magnetic poles being of the same polarity.
 11. A valveless pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein a metal washer is disposed in said metallic casing between said permanent magnet and said electro-magnet, said metal washer engaging said permanent magnet to define a third magnetic pole disposed between said first and second magnetic poles, said third magnetic pole being of a different polarity than said first and second magnetic poles.
 12. A valveless pump comprising a housing, said housing including means for defining first and second chambers separated from one another, each of said chambers having a closed end and an open end, the open end of each chamber extending adjacent the closed end of the other, said second chamber being of annular extent and surrounding said first chamber, magnetic means for generating a magnetic field extending in said second chamber, a fluid ejecting magnetically-responsive hollow piston freely disposed in said first chamber for axial displacement in the latter, means for defining a fluid inlet channel communicating with both said first chamber and internally with said hollow piston, means defining a fluid outlet channel communicating with said first chamber for receiving fluid ejected by said piston, said magnetic means including both an electromagnet and a permanent magnet in operative association with one another, said second chamber including a metallic casing in which said magnetic means extends, said permanent magnet being more proximate said closed end of said second chamber than that of said electromagnet,said electromagnet including a pair of axially opposite ends and a mid-section equidistant from the latter said opposite ends, said electromagnet including terminals initiating at said mid-section for operative association with an electric power source, said permanent magnet having an extreme pole extending away from said electromagnet and proximate to said closed end of said second chamber, said piston including a metallic body including axially opposite open ends and having an axial extent substantially equal to that distance separating said mid-section from said extreme pole, said piston including a pair of plastic annular members connected respectively to the open ends of said metallic body, one of said plastic annular members having a lesser open extent than the other, the plastic annular member of lesser open extent including an inwardly tapered peripheral portion extending from said metallic body in a direction of fluid ejection of said pistion. 